The passing of a Pope is always a moment of immense significance in the Catholic Church, triggering centuries-old rites, global mourning, and the eventual selection of a new pontiff. Yet, when Pope Francis dies, his funeral and burial will break with many longstanding traditions.
Traditionally, a Pope’s funeral is a complex and highly ceremonial event. The deceased pontiff is laid on a catafalque a raised platform in St Peter’s Basilica, where mourners file past to pay their final respects. The body is then placed in three nested coffins: one of cypress wood, another of lead, and finally one of oak, before being interred in the grottoes beneath St Peter’s Basilica.
However, Pope Francis, known for his humility and reformist stance, has opted for a simpler, more modest farewell. He recently approved new plans that strip away much of the traditional pageantry. When he dies, his body will not be displayed on a catafalque. Instead, mourners will be able to pay their respects while his body lies inside a plain wooden coffin lined with zinc a symbolic blend of simplicity and preservation. The coffin lid will be removed during public viewing, maintaining a sense of intimacy and accessibility.
In another unprecedented decision, Pope Francis will also be the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He has chosen to be laid to rest at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, one of the four principal papal basilicas and a site deeply cherished by the Pope throughout his pontificate. Francis frequently visited the basilica to pray before and after his international travels, cementing his personal connection to the sacred site.
These changes reflect Pope Francis’s broader approach to leadership prioritizing humility, accessibility, and a focus on the spiritual over the ceremonial. His final wishes are a continuation of the values he has championed throughout his papacy. As the Church prepares for that eventual moment, the simplified rituals will serve not only as a farewell but as a lasting statement of a Pope who redefined the papacy for the modern era.
